Vacuum cleaning means for thread-working textile machines



April 26, 1966 J, H, NORMAN 7 3,247,553

-WORKING TEXTILE MACHINES VACUUM CLEANlNG MEANS FOR THREAD 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 INVENTOR.

IAco B H.N0I2MAN ATTO [2N EVS April 26, 1966 .1. H. NORMAN 3,247,553

VACUUM CLEANING MEANS FOR THREAD-WORKING TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Aug. 9,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Q'Acos H. NORMAN ATTORNEYS April 26, 1966 J. H. NORMAN VACUUM CLEANINGMEANS FOR THREAD-WORKING TEXTILE MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9,1963 INVENTOR. JACOB H. NORMAN Mm A T TOIZA/E KS Un t d S te Pa3,247,553 7 .1. VACUUM CLEANING MEANS FOR THREAD- WORKING TEXTILEMACHINES Jacob H. Norman, Gastonia, NC.

Filed Aug. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 301,089 6 Claims. (CL 19245) This inventionrelates to the general field of threadworking textile machines, and morespecifically, the invention pertains to the provision of means forpreventing the accumulation of dust, lint, and other debris in spinningmachines which could ultimately lead to the formation of a slub.

In accordance with the teachings of this invention, one of the primaryobjects is to provide vacuum or suction means to remove dust, lint andother foreign materials from a textile spinning frame or relatedmachine.

A further object of this invention is to provide vaccum or suction meansfor the rollers of a textile spinning frame as well as vacuum or suctionmeans for removing dust, lint and other foreign substances from the topand bottom aprons and from their associated cradles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide vacuum orsuction-operated means for picking up dust, lint, and other similarmaterials from a spinning frame in order to reduce the probabilities ofelectrostatic explosions.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of means of the type generally referred to supra, the meansbeing non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive tomanufacture, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more evident from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional stand of a spinningframe, FIGURE 1 illustrating the adaptation of the vacuum or suctionmeans constructed in accordance with this invention thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the vacuum or suction means, per se,in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, detail, cross-sectional view of the spinningframe, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line33 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, detail, perspective view illustrating theapplication of the vacuum or suction means as applied to the cradle;

FIGURE 5 is a detail, fragmentary, cross-sectional view, FIGURE 5 beingtaken substantially on the inclined plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 3,looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the spinning frame, FIGURE6 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane ofline 66 .of FIGURE5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 19designates, in general, a single stand, it being understood that aplurality of stands may be connected therewith on either side thereof inaccordance with the accommodations which are available. The spinningframe stand 10 includes an elongated, substantially rectangular,horizontal support 12 hereinafter referred to as a base support, thebase support 12 having fixedly connected thereto a plurality ofupwardly-projecting standards 14. Each of the standards 14 has rigidlyaflixed thereto an elongataed, substantially rectangular leg portion 16of a support bracket 18. It will be noted that the leg portion 16 isinclined upwardly and away from thebase support 12 at an acute anglerelative thereto. The

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bracket 18 includes a bifurcated foot portion 20 which pr'Q ec'tssubstantially at right angles relative .to the leg portion 16' andincludes the arms 22, 24. An elongated, substantially rectangularsupport bar 26 is rigidly secured to each of the leg portions 16'intermediate the ends thereof, the support bars 26 projectinglongitudinally beyond each of its associated leg portions 16 of thesupport bracket 18. Each of the support bars'26 is provided withdownwardly-opening recesses 28, 30, the recesses 23, 28 and 30, 30 beingaligned one with the other. The outer ends of each of the support bars26 are also provided with transversely-extending, downwardly-openingrecesses 32 which are disposed in confronting aligned position. v 1

Reference numerals 34, 36 and 38 designate front, middle and back bottomrolls, respectively, of conventional construction and which includetheaxiallydiutedportions 40, 42 on the front and back rolls 3'4, 38, andthe knurled portions 44 on the middle roll 36. Each of the rolls 34, 36and 38, intermediatetheir respective fluted or knurled portions, isformed with smooth cylindrical sections 46, 48, 50 of reduced diameter.The opposed ends of the rolls 34, 36, 33 are further reduced in diameteras at 52, 54, 56 to be journaledfor rotation between the arms 22, 24 andin the recesses 28, 30. The'opposed ends of an elongated back bar rod 58are journaled for rotation within the recesses 3-2. I

The back bar rod 58 has fixedly secured thereto adjacent the opposedends thereof one end of a pair of right and left-hand end arms 60 (onlythe right-hand and being shown in FIGURE 1) of conventionalconstruction. Also, a plurality of intermediate arms 62 have one oftheir respective ends fixedly connected with the back her rod 58. Theend and intermediate arms 60, 62, adjacent their respective outer ends,are connected to one of the ends of elongated rods 64 having blocks 66fixedly connected to the other ends of the rods, all in the con-'ventional manner. The adjacent sides of the end and intermediate arms60, 62 as well as their associated blocks 66 are formed with a pluralityof grooves 68- (see FIG- URE 6) which receive therein the opposedreduced ends 70, 72, 74 of pairs of front, middle and backupper rollers76, 78 and 80, respectively.

Each of the rolls 76, 78, is coaxially-aligned with one another andextend parallel to the coaxially-alig'ned rolls 46, 44 and 42, in thatorder. The roll 76 overlies the roll 40, the roll 78 overlies theroll44, and the roll 80 overlies the roll 42. All ofthis structure isconventional and wellknown in the art.

Also, in the conventional manner each roll 76, 78, 80 has anintermediate axially-extending smooth portion" of reduced diameter, asis indicated at 82, 84, 86, which confronts the smooth portions 46, 48,50 of the bottom rolls 40, 42, 44; The rolls 76, 86 rest on the rolls40, 42 under the force of gravity, and the rolls 78 are supported incradles generally indicated at 88. Each cradle 88 includes a pair ofside frame members 90, 92 having a generally rectangular configuration,the side members 90, 92 being held in spaced and substantially parallelrelation by a spacer chuck 94 and an L-shaped back bracket 96. The frontends of the side frame members 96, 92 are spanned by the conventionalU-shaped clamps 98 (see FIGURE 4), having arms 100,102 which engagewithin notches 1 64, 106 formed in the side frame members 9e, 92, all inthe conventional manner.

The middle roll 44 is received within notches 108, 110 formed in theside frame members 99, 92 and the side frame members 90, 92 are alsoprovided with upwardly opening notches 112, 114 to receive thereinreduced portions of the upper middle roll 78.

The roll 44 and the arm 162 have an endless apron 116 3 trainedthereabout, and the arm 100 and the roll 78 have a similar apron 118 ofcontinuous length also trained thereabout. It will be understood fromthe drawings that the two aprons have confronting and contractingadjacent surfaces. This is all conventional structure.

Extending between and supported on the standards 14 of each stand is anovate tube 120 having openings 122 formed in the smaller end thereof,the openings 122 being disposed below the rolls 40. Each tube 120connects through a pipe 124 with a vacuum or suction source (not shown).Each of the ovate tubes 120 has a plurality of substantially hollowtubular T-connectors fixedly secured therewith, the connectors beingdesignated by reference numeral 126, and a connector 126 is provided foradjacent pairs of cradles 88. Each connector includes a stem 128 in opencommunication at one end thereof with the tube 120, and being in opencommunication with a crosshead 130 which opens through the opposed sidewalls 90, 92 of the immediately adjacent pairs of cradles 88 throughconfronting openings 132, 134 (see FIGURE 6). The crossheads 130 extendabove and below the contacting portions of the aprons 116, 118 wherebydust, lint or other foreign substances may be drawn from the in teriorof each apron.

' Also fixedly connected with the back bar rod 58 are the arcuate ends136, 138 of a plurality of clamps 149 having a pair of substantiallyrectangular portions 142, 144 which are secured together by means of ascrew 146 and nut 148. The other ends of the central portions 142, 144also terminate in arcuate ends 150, 152 which clampingly embrace anelongated, hollow, substantially cylindrical tube 154 having a pluralityof substantially rectangular inlet bosses 156 projecting therefrom andto which are connected one of the ends, respectively, of a plurality ofelongated, substantially hollow, rectangular picker tubes 158 havingdownwardly-facing, transversely-extending openings 160. The picker tubes158 overlie the end arms 60 and the intermediate arms 62, with theopenings 16-3 overlying the reduced journaled ends 70, 72, 74 and thereduced intermediate portions 82, 84 and 86 of the upper rolls 76, 78and 80. These features of the invention are clearly shown in FIGURES 1,3, 5 and 6.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it will beseen that the hollow cylindrical tubular member 154 connects through -aC-shaped connector 168 in a slip-fit, and the other end of the connector168 connects through a slip-fit with one end of an elongated, hollow,substantially cylindrical connector tube 170. The other end of theconnector tube 170 is also provided with a slip-fit within the hollow,cylindrical boss 172 which opens into the pipe 124. From the foregoingit will be seen that as suction is supplied to the tube 124 vacuum orsuction is applied to the picker tubes 158, whereby all lint, dust, andother foreign substances which have a tendency to accumulate on thereduced diameter portions of the upper rolls will be picked up and ledto a suitable point of discharge. It is desirable to employ clamps ofthe type illustrated at 140 whereby the tubular member 154 may berotated about its longitudinal axis, thereby raising the picker tubes158 from their full-line position shown in FIGURE 3 to their dotted-lineposition therein. The use of this type of clamp also permits the end andintermediate arms to be rotated with the back bar rod 58 in the event itis necessary to inspect or make changes in the front, back orintermediate lower rolls.

The openings 122 formed in the tube 120 serve to draw the broken orsevered ends of rovings 206 which are, of course, threaded between thepairs of rollers 42, 80 and between the aprons 116 and 118 from whichthe rovings pass between the rolls 40, 76.

While the above-described invention has been described and illustratedin the environment of a spinning frame, it will be understood that thisinvention may be extended for inclusion with any textile manufacturingequipment which may employ rolls.

Having thus described and illustrated one embodiment of this inventionin detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by wayof example, and that the instant invention is to be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Vacuum cleaning means for a thread-working textile machine comprisinga stand having front, middle and back bottom rolls, front, middle andback upper rolls extending parallel to and overlying said front, middleand back bottom rolls, a cradle supported on the middle roll of saidbottom rolls and rotatably supporting said upper middle roll, saidcradle having an opening formed therein, a substantially U-shaped clampextending transversely of said cradle and including a pair of armsextending substantially parallel to the axes of said bottom and upperrolls, an apron trained over the middle roll of each of said bottom andupper rolls and one of said arms, each of the complemental aprons havingport-ions contacting each other, vacuum means disposed below the frontroll of said bottom rolls and opening toward the front of said stand,and a tubular connector connecting the opening of the cradle to theinterior thereof opposite the interior of and adjacent the contactingportions of the aprons to said vacuum means to remove dust, lint andother foreign substances from the interiors of said aprons.

2. Vacuum cleaning means for a thread-working textile machine as definedin claim 1, wherein said rolls have reduced diameters at axially-spacedintervals, and vacuum means supported on said stand overlying saidreduced diameter portions of said rolls to pick lint, dust and otherforeign substances therefrom.

3. Vacuum cleaning means for a thread-working textile machine comprisinga stand having front, middle and back bottom rolls, front, middle andback upper rolls extending parallel to and overlying said front, middleand back bottom rolls, a cradle supported on the middle roll of saidbottom rolls and rotatably supporting said upper middle roll, saidcradle having an opening formed therein, an apron trained over themiddle roll of each of said bottom and upper rolls, each of thecomplemental aprons having portions contacting each other, vacuum meansdisposed below and extending along the front roll of said bottom rollsand opening toward the front of said stand, and other vacuum meansconnecting the Opening of the cradle to the interior thereof oppositethe interior of and adjacent the contacting portions of the aprons tosaid vacuum means to remove dust, lint and other foreign substances fromthe interiors of said aprons.

4. Vacuum cleaning means for thread-working textile machines comprisinga stand having front, middle and back bottom rolls, said bottom rollsbeing disposed in spaced relation in a plane which is inclined withrespect to said stand, front, middle and back upper rolls extendingparallel to and overlying said front, middle and back bottom rolls, acradle, having an Opening formed therein, for said bottom and uppermiddle rolls, said cradle including a pair of sidewalls of substantiallyrectangular configuration disposed in laterally-spaced and substantiallyparallel relationship, said sidewalls rotatably receiving said bottommiddle roll and rotatably supporting said upper middle roll, asubstantially U-shaped clamp mounted on and carried by said sidewalls,said clamp including a pair of arms disposed in spaced parallel relationrelative to one another and with respect to said bottom and upper middlerolls, an apron trained about each of said bottom and upper middle rollsand one, respectively, of said arms, said aprons being disposed forsurface-to-surface contact over a portion of their length to receiverovings therethrough, and vacuum means disposed below and extendingalong the front roll of said bottom rolls and openin toward the front ofsaid stand, another vacuum means connecting the opening of the cradle tothe interior thereof opposite the interior of and adjacent thecontacting portions of the aprons to said vacuum means to remove dust,lint and other foreign substances from the interior of each of saidaprons.

5. Vacuum cleaning means for thread-Working textile machines as definedin claim 4, wherein said stand includes a plurality of end andintermediate arms rotatably supported thereon, said upper roll-s beingrotatably supported on said end and intermediate arms, said upper rollsbeing provided with reduced ends and intermediate portions, and furthervacuum means superimposed over said portions of said rolls havingreduced ends.

6. Vacuum cleaning means for thread-working textile machines as definedin claim 5, and a back bar rod mounted for rotation on said support andhaving one of the ends of said end and intermediate arms fixedly securedthereto for. rotation therewith, a plurality of clamps having one oftheir respective ends fixedly secured to said back bar rod ataxially-spaced intervals, a substantially hollow tubular member fixedlyconnected within said clamps, said further vacuum means embodying aplurality of picker tubes, said picker tubes being substantially hollowthroughout their length and having one of their ends fixedly connectedto said tubular member, the other ends of said picker tubes havingopenings extending transversely therethrough and superimposed over saidreduced portions of said upper rolls, and means connecting said tubularmember with said first-mentioned vacuum means.

No references cited.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

D. NEWTON, Assistant Examiner.

1. VACUUM CLEANING MEANS FOR A THREAD-WORKING TEXTILE MACHINE COMPRISINGA STAND HAVING FRONT, MIDDLE AND BACK BOTTOM ROLLS, FRONT, MIDDLE ANDBACK UPPER ROLLS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND OVERLYING SAID FRONT, MIDDLEAND BACK BOTTOM ROLLS, A CRADLE SUPPORTED ON THE MIDDLE ROLL OF SAIDBOTTOM ROLLS AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID UPPER MIDDLE ROLL, SAIDCRADLE HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN, A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CLAMPEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CRADLE AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF ARMSEXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF SAID BOTTOM AND UPPERROLLS, AN APRON TRAINED OVER THE MIDDLE ROLL OF EACH OF SAID BOTTOM ANDUPPER ROLLS AND ONE OF SAID ARMS, EACH OF THE COMPLEMENTAL APRONS HAVINGPORTIONS CONTACTING EACH OTHER, VACUUM MEANS DISPOSED BELOW THE FRONTROLL OF SAID BOTTOM ROLLS AND OPENING TOWARD THE FRONT OF SAID STAND,AND A TUBULAR CONNECTOR CONNECTING THE OPENING OF THE CRADLE TO THEINTERIOR THEREOF OPPOSITE THE INTERIOR OF AND ADJACENT THE CONTACTINGPORTIONS OF THE APRONS TO SAID VACUUM MEANS TO REMOVE DUST, LINT ANDOTHER FOREIGN SUBSTANCES FROM THE INTERIORS OF SAID APRONS.